A Great Way to Snack

A Great Way to Start… or Snack

Featured Recipe:  Maple Granola

I have a hard time with breakfast.  As a teenager and young adult, I didn't always eat breakfast.  Of course, I now realize the importance of a good breakfast and strive to send my kids to school well fed as best I can.  But my kids are growing boys and what they eat in the morning is not necessarily what I should be or want to be eating in the morning.  Greek yogurt and fresh berries is my standby breakfast, and while it is good, there was always something missing…. until last year when I discovered homemade Maple Granola.  This recipe was originally for a trail mix snack, and it called to mix the made granola with all sorts of things.  I found that if you skip all the mix-ins, it makes a great granola and if you add it to greek yogurt and berries it is like eating a dessert parfait for breakfast - sweet, nutty, crunchy, and creamy!  The bonus of this recipe is that my kids like this granola as a snack, especially my 13 year old.  And they like it as is - no chips or dried fruit needed.  It is also a very easy recipe, so I try to keep it on hand often so I have a great breakfast and the kids have a healthy homemade snack option!  

Maple Granola

4 cups old fashioned oats (if needed, use gluten free oats)

1/2 cup grape seed oil (the original recipe called for vegetable, but I like grape seed)

1/2 cup pure maple syrup

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1/2 cup slivered almonds

3 teaspoons vanilla

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Preheat the oven to 325 and line a large rimmed backing sheet with parchment paper (for easier clean-up).  In a large bowl, mix all the ingredients.  Spread on the prepared pan and bake for 15 minutes.  Stir, and bake for 20-25 minutes longer or until golden brown and the nuts are toasty.  Cool completely.  Store in an airtight container.  

Note:  You can easily turn this into trail mix per the original recipe by adding anything of interest to the cooled granola.